All the Most Beautiful Places

June 29, 2019

          "What do you mean you can't find his parents," I could not believe the words coming out of this guys mouth. Cory, while not being as outwardly upset, was clenching his fists so hard they were turning white.

          "I'm sorry ma'am, but if his parents cared they would have reported him missing." the officer was trying to look sympathetic, but really he just looked frustrated.

           "Missing, he could have fallen in on a day trip with them."

          "The boy is dehydrated, and it appears he hasn't eaten in at least a couple of days. James isn't responding to our questions, so we can't know for sure, but we think his parents might have left him in the woods on purpose."

          "Why, how could anybody be so horrible to their own child!" and how does this cop not look shocked. An even worse thought came to me. "What's going to happen to him?"

          "Grace, calm down." Cory has a hold on my arms, keeping me from moving towards the cop. I hadn't even realized I was advancing on him.

           "James will be fine, we will find him a suitable family or put him in foster care."

          Something clicks in my head. "Sir, if I knew a family who has been looking to adopt for a while, could I make some recommendations.

          "We can look into them, but I can't make any promises."

          "Who you thinking about Grace?" Cory asks, making a confused puppy face.

          "My parents," I was trying to stifle my laughter, "they've been looking for a young boy for quite some time."

          "Can you tell me their names ma'am." I jump, not realizing the officer was still here.

          "John and Marie Martin," I hope this goes through, they've been looking since I was 12, almost 10 years now.

          "We will cross-reference this with the adoption agency, you can leave now," the officer ushered us to the door. "Thank you."

          "Take care..." the door was shut in my face "..of him," I say finishing my sentence.

          "Hey, do you want to crash at my place?"

          "What?" I turn to Cory, that is not something I want to hear on a first date. I'm not that kind of girl, despite what some people say.     

          "Not in that way," Cory explains, "it's just my house is a half an hour closer and it's already 2 AM." I check my phone, noticing that it is, in fact, two in the morning. I also notice a whole bunch of missed calls from my roommate.

          "Why not," I'll explain to her in the morning. With that, we hopped in Cory's truck and left for his house.